Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx.
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS 0F THE TWENTY-SEVEN SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
1st Reading Isaiah 5:1-7 2nd Reading Philippians 4:6-9 Gospel Reading Mt 21: 33-43
The liturgy of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, presents to us one of the most beautiful images of the Old and New Testament: the vineyard of the Lord. To what or whom Vineyard refers to? Who is the Owner? who are the tenants? who are the servants and who is the son? And finally, what is the Produce? These questions deserve a spiritual or biblical answer. From a general insight, there is a strong connection between the first reading, the responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Reading.
“Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Listen” to another parable.” The parable begins with an invitation to listen. Jesus draws the attention of the chief priests and the elders of the people by using an imperative form: “Listen”. In this context, to ‘Listen’ is an exhortation or an order. Therefore, Jesus is ordering the chief priests and the elders of the people to listen to Him carefully. Let us also offer a listening ear to the Word of God of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary time A.
What does the vineyard represent? The vineyard represents the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:7). Let us keep in mind that, the vineyard of the Lord represents not only the House of Israel but also all the nations of the World and the Church. The owner of the vineyard is God. The tenants are the religious and civil authorities. The servants are the prophets, and the Son is Jesus-Christ. The produce symbolizes righteousness, justice, faith, obedience to God and repentance.
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on journey.” This passage shows us how much God trusts human being. God established human being as the tenant of his vineyard. God is waiting for the produce of his vineyard at the appropriate time.
“When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce”. God’s desire is for the tenants to take care of his vineyard and bring to Him its produce. Unfortunately, the tenants abused of it by killing God’s servants and beloved Son. The tenants do not respond to the expectation of the Landowner. Consequently, “the landowner is going to bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.” The wicked tenants loss the vineyard which is given to another people that is capable of bearing fruit, a people that can live an active faith and a practical love. The final decision of the landowner highlights that nothing can stop the love of God for us, not even the elimination of His Son. It is this sacrifice that gains salvation for all. When reading the first reading and the Gospel reading of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, we noticed that in the Gospel reading, it is the tenants who abuse of the vineyard while in the first reading it is the vineyard that does not produce the expected fruit. “I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead? “Isaiah 5: 5. This is to underline that both vineyard and tenant must bear fruits according to the will of the landowner.
“It was the stone rejected by builders that became the keystone”. By trying to contextualize and actualize the final declaration of Jesus taken from the Old Testament, I can say that the rejected stone is Africa, Asia, Latin America which have become nowadays the keystone of Christianity and Catholicism in a particular way.
In conclusion, the parable of the wicked tenants is a strong warning for the religious authorities or the chief priests who in some cases abuse of their spiritual leadership and power. It is also a strong warning for some civil authorities who reject God’s messengers and message. And the people of God’s are called to produce fruits according to the heart of God. This parable of the wicked tenants points out a sad reality and a bleeding sore of our modern society. It is painful to hear that God’s people are being abused by some of their shepherds. At the same time, the Church and the servants of God are being persecuted by some civil authorities who are allergic to God’s message and messengers. God’s presence and message in the modern society do not find fertile ground because of our unfaithfulness, power abuse, injustice and disobedience. However, let us keep in mind that we are tenant and not landowner. Happy Sunday to you.
Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx.
REFLECTION ON THE READINGS 0F THE TWENTY-SEVEN SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
1st Reading Isaiah 5:1-7 2nd Reading Philippians 4:6-9 Gospel Reading Mt 21: 33-43
The liturgy of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, presents to us one of the most beautiful images of the Old and New Testament: the vineyard of the Lord. To what or whom Vineyard refers to? Who is the Owner? who are the tenants? who are the servants and who is the son? And finally, what is the Produce? These questions deserve a spiritual or biblical answer. From a general insight, there is a strong connection between the first reading, the responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Reading.
“Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Listen” to another parable.” The parable begins with an invitation to listen. Jesus draws the attention of the chief priests and the elders of the people by using an imperative form: “Listen”. In this context, to ‘Listen’ is an exhortation or an order. Therefore, Jesus is ordering the chief priests and the elders of the people to listen to Him carefully. Let us also offer a listening ear to the Word of God of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary time A.
What does the vineyard represent? The vineyard represents the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:7). Let us keep in mind that, the vineyard of the Lord represents not only the House of Israel but also all the nations of the World and the Church. The owner of the vineyard is God. The tenants are the religious and civil authorities. The servants are the prophets, and the Son is Jesus-Christ. The produce symbolizes righteousness, justice, faith, obedience to God and repentance.
“There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on journey.” This passage shows us how much God trusts human being. God established human being as the tenant of his vineyard. God is waiting for the produce of his vineyard at the appropriate time.
“When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce”. God’s desire is for the tenants to take care of his vineyard and bring to Him its produce. Unfortunately, the tenants abused of it by killing God’s servants and beloved Son. The tenants do not respond to the expectation of the Landowner. Consequently, “the landowner is going to bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.” The wicked tenants loss the vineyard which is given to another people that is capable of bearing fruit, a people that can live an active faith and a practical love. The final decision of the landowner highlights that nothing can stop the love of God for us, not even the elimination of His Son. It is this sacrifice that gains salvation for all. When reading the first reading and the Gospel reading of this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A, we noticed that in the Gospel reading, it is the tenants who abuse of the vineyard while in the first reading it is the vineyard that does not produce the expected fruit. “I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead? “Isaiah 5: 5. This is to underline that both vineyard and tenant must bear fruits according to the will of the landowner.
“It was the stone rejected by builders that became the keystone”. By trying to contextualize and actualize the final declaration of Jesus taken from the Old Testament, I can say that the rejected stone is Africa, Asia, Latin America which have become nowadays the keystone of Christianity and Catholicism in a particular way.
In conclusion, the parable of the wicked tenants is a strong warning for the religious authorities or the chief priests who in some cases abuse of their spiritual leadership and power. It is also a strong warning for some civil authorities who reject God’s messengers and message. And the people of God’s are called to produce fruits according to the heart of God. This parable of the wicked tenants points out a sad reality and a bleeding sore of our modern society. It is painful to hear that God’s people are being abused by some of their shepherds. At the same time, the Church and the servants of God are being persecuted by some civil authorities who are allergic to God’s message and messengers. God’s presence and message in the modern society do not find fertile ground because of our unfaithfulness, power abuse, injustice and disobedience. However, let us keep in mind that we are tenant and not landowner. Happy Sunday to you.
Fr. Christopher N. Chiza, sx.